Zimbabwe – 245 all out in 49 overs (Wessly Madhevere 61, Sikandar Raza 58, Wellington Masakadza 35; Mark Adair 4/54, Curtis Camphor 3/13, Andy McBrine 1/36)
Ireland – 249-4 in 48.4 overs (Paul Stirling 89, Curtis Camphor 63, Lorcan Tucker 36*; Trevor Gwandu 2/50, Blessing Muzarabani 1/51, Richard Ngarava 1/53)
Ireland won by six wickets
Despite fifties from Wessly Madhevere and Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe fell short as Ireland fought back to win the second One-Day International at Harare Sports Club on Sunday by six wickets, with eight balls to spare.
The victory levels the three-match series at one-all, setting up a decisive final match on Tuesday.
Ireland won the toss and opted to field first.
Brian Bennett once again provided Zimbabwe with a brisk start, scoring 30 out of the first 38 runs off 34 balls in seven overs.
However, after striking consecutive fours off Mark Adair in an over, he was caught at slip off the final delivery.
The scoring rate slowed considerably as Ben Curran and Craig Ervine struggled to dominate the bowling, adding just nine runs in 4.2 overs before Ervine was bowled by Josh Little for four.
Curran, anchoring the innings, contributed 18 out of 77 before falling to Andy McBrine.
His dismissal brought together Madhevere and Raza, who put on a solid 74-run stand in 16 overs.
Madhevere reached 61 off 70 balls before being trapped lbw by Craig Campher with the score at 151, leaving Zimbabwe in a promising position.
However, Campher quickly turned the game in Ireland’s favour, dismissing Johnathan Campbell (1) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (0) in the space of seven balls.
Zimbabwe suddenly found themselves struggling at 147 for six in the 35th over.
Raza and Wellington Masakadza staged a brief recovery, adding 50 runs in the next eight overs.
However, Raza, after scoring 58 off 75 balls, was eventually caught near the midwicket boundary off a pull shot.
With Zimbabwe’s main batters gone, Masakadza and Richard Ngarava played aggressively to push the total to 232.
Masakadza, who had the fastest strike rate of the innings, was eventually yorked by Graham Hume for 35 off 35 balls.
Adair wrapped up the innings, taking out the last two wickets as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 245, with one over remaining.
He finished with four for 54, while Campher, in just five overs, claimed three for 13.
Zimbabwe’s total was slightly underwhelming, leaving Ireland with a manageable target.
Ireland’s chase got off to a shaky start when Andy Balbirnie fell for 11, gloving a rising delivery from Blessing Muzarabani to the wicketkeeper.
However, a match-winning partnership followed, with Paul Stirling and Campher building a commanding 144-run stand for the second wicket.
Campher, having made 63 off 94 balls, was lbw trying to pull a low-skidding delivery from Trevor Gwandu, leaving Ireland at 171 for two.
In his next over, Gwandu struck again, dismissing Harry Tector with a brilliant catch behind the stumps by Marumani off a thick edge.
At 200, Zimbabwe finally removed Stirling, who miscued a pull off Ngarava and was caught at extra cover for 89 off 102 balls, including two sixes and eight fours.
However, Zimbabwe could not make further inroads as Ireland cruised home by six wickets.
Lorcan Tucker, with 36 not out, sealed the win with a boundary off Raza, while George Dockrell remained unbeaten on 20.
Gwandu was Zimbabwe’s most successful bowler, finishing with two for 50.
